Devastating Fire On The Moors Above Ilkley. Why Would Somebody Do This?

[ladybirder]

https://news.sky.com/story/ilkley-moor-fire-intense-blaze-breaks-out-on-west-yorkshire-moorland-11699558

I read there have been some arrests and perhaps it wasn't done deliberately but we know there are people who do. The suffering of the many species of wildlife including ground-nesting birds that will die is just heartbreaking. As I said, why would somebody, anybody, do this? I've driven over those moors many times and they are so beautiful.

[Rockrose]

Twisted fire starter

[dannyk13]

Two teenagers arrested.

[Mamyalynne]

Deliberate or careless, it's an awful shame.

[hereIam]

These two yobs will probably get off very lightly, such are the ways of the Courts these days. Such tragic destruction.

[ladybirder]

I would've bet my home that I had put this in News. It's really not a subject for CB. Can't do 'owt reet lately:-(

Not an accident then by the sound of it. I suppose they thought it was such a lark the morons. And meanwhile it's still burning. If a child of mine had done that I don't know what I would do. I know what I'd feel like doing though.

[marval]

I hope they can find a suitable punishment for them. Starting a fire like that is mindless and dangerous.

[ladybirder]

Three males arrested, aged 19, 23 and 24 - old enough to know better.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6943319/Massive-50-acre-wildfire-rips-West-Yorkshire-moorland-hottest-day-year.html

[sanmac]

If it can be proven that these three individuals did intentionally start the fire there should be prison time doled out to them. The loss of wild-life and its habitat; the damage to recreation areas; the cost of the fire-fighting operation; and I imagine other spin-off effects should all be taken into consideration in meting out their sentences.

[sanmac]

I just realized that Rockrose's response of "Twisted fire starter" is making reference to a video game. Not trying to trivialize this situation were you?

[ladybirder]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to answer.
Sanmac I was wondering if people convicted of this crime get a prison sentence and googling hasn't provided an answer. I hope they do and it teaches them never to do anything like that again. Besides everything you mentioned, it's so cruel.
I took RR's answer at face value as I don't even know the name of one video game.

[Mamyalynne]

We'll have to wait and see what the punishment for this is - re RR, who I know is a nature lover, I can't see anything wrong with her description of someone who would set a fire.

It happens to be a partial lyric from a song, but describes arson well.

[sanmac]

Sure, OK.

[marval]

I hope an appropriate sentence is handed out. People could have died dealing with the fire.

[gness]

It breaks my heart to think of the damage this has done....
I may be dim but can anyone understand what, if it is arson, a person gets from doing this? I certainly can't. I can't see the gain...the thrill....it really is beyond me.

[Mamyalynne]

They say the reasons behind arson are many and varied, if that is what this is - who knows?

They arrested a few last year after the devastation on Winter Hill and surrounding areas, there were multiple possible fire sources so not sure what came of the investigations is anything as yet.

[Mamyalynne]

* if anything

[gness]

Is it a sort of power thing do you think then, Mamya..... a feeling of power by bringing the fire services out to deal with something they have done?

[ladybirder]

Breaks my heart as well g, I imagine the rabbits and the hares and the foxes and the badgers and the ground nesting birds and the stoats and and and ... all terrified and trapped, then the agony of burning to death. That's besides the damage the environment and the years it will take to recover. Besides the poor firemen and the cost. I can't even find out if a prison sentence is on the cards if found guilty of deliberately lighting the fire.
Marvel I hope it is a prison sentence.

[Mamyalynne]

I think it likely with youngsters but these men aren't children and it's unlikely all three are ill in any way.

[ladybirder]

Mamya I tried to find out if the two arrested for the Winter Hill fire were tried and sentenced and if so what they were sentenced to, but no luck